Tag Archives: Xanterra Parks & Resorts

Austin Adventures Facilitates Vacations in America’s Over-Popular National Parks

Hiking up the Mist Trail alongside Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park. National parks are ideal for summer family vacations, so much so, they are overrun. Tour operator like Austin Adventures not only has hotel space, but can facilitate the visit to minimize crowds © 2017 Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Last year, a record setting 331 million people visited a national park in the U.S.  2015 had earlier set the record at 307 million visitors. Over the last two years there has been a 13 percent visitor increase overall. This is a trend that experts say is here to stay.

The good news is that more and more people are enjoying America’s “best idea.” The downside is that roads, pull-overs and entrance stations are more crowded than ever, parking is hard to find, campgrounds are booked full by noon, restaurant reservations are difficult to secure and for those waiting too long to book lodging, there’s no room left at the inn.

Because vacation time is too precious for such factors as frustration and anxiety, advance vacation planning that includes putting a professional tour operator in charge of the logistics can help buy peace of mind and a better overall experience.

“When a national park is in the equation, a good tour company can give you the kind of quality park vacation that just might not be possible on your own,” said Dan Austin, President of Austin Adventures, a leader in family-focused, multisport vacations here and abroad.

Austin’s company offers a good reason of why one should consider a tour operator for a national park vacation. “We have stayed ahead of the growth curve by adding capacity and trip departures. We also work hard to block the best rooms inside a park, a year or more in advance.” This is an investment (and risk) to the tour operator, having to secure everything so far into the future. But in Austin Adventures’ case, it has been a winning strategy.

Where an individual or family may find frustration going it on their own, booking through an operator can make the process pain-free. A tour operator has the rooms, the restaurant reservations and sightseeing logistics all worked out. They alleviate parking woes by dropping guests off at a trailhead and picking them up at a different spot later. They can also avoid the masses because they know where the crowds aren’t as well as the best times to be there (on Austin’s Yellowstone Park trips they often avoid the crowds at Old Faithful by visiting at sunrise – a short walk from their lodge).

“Guests benefit from our expertise, ‘insider’s knowledge and long-standing park connections,” Austin said.

Tour operators know the area, inside and outside the park, as well as the best places to stay, eat, view wildlife, etc. They have highly trained guides who are focused on customer service, safety and security, as well as having fun, said Rick Hoeninghausen, Director of Sales & Marketing for Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Quality tour operators often build in special touches that enhance the experience for their guests. For example, Austin Adventures will surprise their guests with fresh made ice cream and fruit parfaits served along the hiking trail.

Some of Austin Adventures’ most popular National Park family itineraries include Yellowstone Family Adventure, Yosemite National Park Multisport, Grand Canyon Family Vacation & Tour, and the Bryce and Zion National Park Tour in Utah. For information on all of the company’s National Park adventures, see: http://www.austinadventures.com/national-park-vacations/

Based in Billings, MT, Austin Adventures has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, pre-set and custom-designed small group tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. In 2013, Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings that includes operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park; and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also owns and operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in Williams, Ariz., the Grand Hotel in Tusayan, Ariz., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Country Walkers and Austin Adventures.

For information on Austin Adventures, www.austinadventures.com, call 800-575-1540 or email [email protected].

 

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/krubin0830/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

 

Xanterra, Austin Adventures Join on Photo-Sharing Contest, Travel Discounts to Benefit Veterans

Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Austin Adventures are teaming up on travel promotions to honor America’s veterans and active military members by way of a photo-sharing contest in which the public is invited to enter the #FreeBecause from Nov. 1-12 as well as discounts on 2016 Austin Adventures tours booked between Nov. 9-13.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Austin Adventures are teaming up on travel promotions to honor America’s veterans and active military members by way of a photo-sharing contest as well as discounts on 2016 Austin Adventures tours.

DENVER, CO – Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Austin Adventures are teaming up on travel promotions to honor America’s veterans and active military members by way of a photo-sharing contest in which the public is invited to enter the #FreeBecause from Nov. 1-12 as well as discounts on 2016 Austin Adventures tours booked between Nov. 9-13.

The #FreeBeacause photo-sharing contest grand prize is a trip to the Grand Canyon that will be awarded to a veteran or active military member and his/her family. There are also daily giveaways.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts and its affiliated properties, The Broadmoor and The Inn at Sea Island, are sponsoring the contest and offering exclusive vacation deals in honor of Veterans Day. The prize includes two nights at The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, one night at the Maswik Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park, round-trip airfare up to $1,500, up to four first-class tickets on the Grand Canyon Railway and two meals per day for up to four people.

To enter the #FreeBecause photo-sharing contest, participants should Instagram or Tweet a photo of their military hero between Nov. 1 and 11 and tag it with #FreeBecause. Their military friend or family member will automatically be entered into the contest. Winners will be selected to receive the grand prize as well as daily prizes of gifts from the National Parks and Xanterra’s resorts, tour brands and affiliated properties. (For more information and to see a special album of the photo entries, visit www.xanterra.com/freebecause.)

In addition, the collection of Xanterra resorts and tour companies, as well as The Broadmoor and The Inn at Sea Island, are offering active military members and their families – and in some cases, the general public – exclusive vacation deals in honor of Veterans Day. The National Parks are also offering a fee-free entry for the general public on Veterans Day. (For more information on these offers, visit www.xanterra.com/freebecause.)

As part of this commemorative program, Austin Adventures, a member of the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings, will offer 25 percent off a 2016 Austin Adventures tour for the veteran/active military and their spouse and 10 percent off for their traveling companion(s) on any Austin Adventures trip to be enjoyed by Dec. 31, 2016, that is booked between Nov. 9 and 13, 2015. (See: www.austinadventures.com/honoring-our-military-and-veteran-heroes)

Based in Billings, MT, Austin Adventures (formerly Austin-Lehman Adventures) has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a provider of scheduled small group tours and customized trips to all seven continents. In 2013, Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings that includes operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park; and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also owns and operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in Williams, Ariz., the Grand Hotel in Tusayan, Ariz., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Country Walkers and Austin Adventures.

For more information on all of the destinations, trips and itineraries offered by Austin Adventures visit www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email [email protected].
For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures